Gut Coaching

You know your gut health is important, but how can you actually adjust your diet to support a healthy digestive tract? Get started with our top gut healing foods.

You’ve probably heard by now that optimal digestive function is paramount to overall health and wellness. The state of your gastrointestinal tract—also known as the GI tract or the gut—plays a critical role in supporting your health. But if you don’t tend to the trillions of microbes in your gut, they may also contribute to some common health conditions.

Why gut health matters

A healthy gut digests and absorbs the food you consume so that the body can use all of the nutrients for functioning. The lining of your gut is critical to the proper absorption of these nutrients as well as the efficient excretion of waste and protection from harmful foreign invaders. When this lining becomes permeable or “leaky”—from chronic stress, processed foods, alcohol, medications, or an imbalance in your gut microbiome—nutrients and predigested materials leak out from the gut into the bloodstream and can trigger an inflammatory response in the body.

This inflammatory response can present as gas and bloating, acid reflux, fatigue, joint pain, irregular bowel movements, insomnia, brain fog, skin issues like eczema, and even anxiety and depression. Poor digestive function and leaky gut have been associated with many modern diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and heart disease.

So what does it take to keep your gut lining strong and running smoothly? At Parsley Health we always recommend starting with what is on your plate. By taking a holistic approach, we dive deeper into your diet and create a personalized treatment plan to help you feel your best. Both your Parsley Health clinician and health coach will work together to understand your individual gut—how you react to foods like gluten and dairy, how medication may be impacting your gut, how well your digestive system functions—and suggest a diet and supplement plan that’s tailored to you. For some, this may also include in-depth testing to get a better look at your microbiome and food sensitivities.